NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Isothermal Battery Calorimeter 

Technology Transfer and 

Development

Cooperative Research and 

Development Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-12-461

NREL Technical Contacts: Ahmad Pesaran and 

Matthew Keyser

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-5400-63410

December 2014
NOTICE

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Cover Photos: (left to right) photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 16416, photo from SunEdison, NREL 17423, photo by Pat Corkery, NREL 

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This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI.A(3) of the CRADA document, this 

document is the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to 

the Office of Science and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to 

demonstrate results of federally funded research.

Parties to the Agreement: NETZSCH Instruments North America, LLC

CRADA Number: CRD-12-461

CRADA Title: Isothermal Battery Calorimeter Technology Transfer and Development

Joint Work Statement Funding Table Showing DOE Commitment:

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 16,722.00

Mod 1 $ 12,000.00

Mod 5 $ (8,000.00)

TOTALS $ 20,722.00

Abstract of CRADA Work:

During the last 15 years, NREL has been utilizing its unique expertise and capabilities to work 

with industry partners on battery thermal testing and electric and hybrid vehicle simulation and 

testing. Further information and publications about NREL’s work and unique capabilities in 

battery testing and modeling can be found at NREL’s Energy Storage website: 

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/energystorage/. Particularly, NREL has developed and 

fabricated a large volume isothermal battery calorimeter that has been made available for 

licensing and potential commercialization 

(http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=394). In summer of 2011, NREL 

developed and fabricated a smaller version of the large volume isothermal battery calorimeter, 

called hereafter “cell-scale LVBC.”

NETZSCH Instruments North America, LLC is a leading company in thermal analysis, 

calorimetry, and determination of thermo-physical properties of materials (www.netzschthermal-analysis.com). NETZSCH is interested in evaluation and eventual commercialization of 

the NREL large volume isothermal battery calorimeter. 
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This report is available at no cost from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at www.nrel.gov/publications.

Summary of Research Results:

NREL transferred its technology and know-how to NETZSCH through several site visits, as well 

as email and conference calls. Based on NREL’s input, NETZSCH designed and fabricated two 

prototype isothermal calorimeters for medium-size cells and small modules. This prototype had 

features for ease of use of the hardware and software to eventually become a commercial unit. 

Initially, the NETZSCH prototype had difficulty achieving the specified accuracy. 

NREL supported NETZSCH with troubleshooting to identify the causes of inaccuracies and 

provided solutions to improve the accuracy. As part of this activity, NETZSCH sent one 

prototype calorimeter to NREL for evaluation and calibration. NREL further provided input to 

improve the stability of baseline heat measurement crucial to the getting the desired accuracy. 

NETZSCH used the information and finalized the design and development of their first 

commercial isothermal battery calorimeter called IBC-248. Further information about this 

product could be found in http://www.netzsch.com/fileadmin/user_upload/netzsch-thermalanalysis/products/pdfs/Flyer_NIB_IBC284_1113w.pdf?1383911393

NREL and NETZSCH were selected for an R&D 100 Award in 2013. 

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/energystorage/news/2013/3300.html

NETZSCH is now commercializing the IBC-248 units.

Subject Inventions Listing:

None developed under this CRADA

Report Date:

October 24, 2014

Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL:

Ahmad Pesaran 303-275-4441 ahmad.pesaran@nrel.gov

Matt Keyser 303-275-3876 matthew.keyser@nrel.gov

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.